Brisbane tournament Denis Shapovalov loses first match of 2026

(Brisbane) After a year 2025 marked by an impressive rise in the world rankings and two ATP titles, Canadian Denis Shapovalov started 2026 with a defeat on Monday.

Shapovalov (23^e) lost in two sets of 6-4 and 6-2 against the Belgian Raphaël Collignon (84^e) in the first round of the Brisbane tournament.

Shapovalov, who fell to 140^e ATP ranking in 2024 after a knee injury, was the sixth seed in this ATP 250 tournament played on hard court, while Collignon had to qualify.

It was a first duel between the two men.

Shapovalov had trouble serving, starting both sets broken. In the first set, he then erased five break points without being able to come from behind, while in the second, he lost the first four games.

The 26-year-old Ontarian placed only 55% of his first serves in play, winning only 53% of the points when he did. He hit three aces, but committed just as many double faults. He offered 12 break points to Collignon.

Collignon was much more effective with the balls in hand, offering his opponent no opportunity to break. He took advantage of his second match point to end his evening of work in 76 minutes.

Sabalenka dominates Bucsa

The exhibition match nicknamed “The Battle of the Sexes” was a moment of celebration for Aryna Sabalenka, but also a duel which served to refine her preparation for the Australian Open.

In her first match since that against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai last month, the world No. 1 crushed the 50th on Tuesday^e world player Cristina Bucsa 6-0, 6-1. Sabalenka, the defending champion of the tournament, could possibly cross swords in the quarterfinals with the American Madison Keys, who won 6-4, 6-3 against McCartney Kessler.

“Battle of the Sexes” has garnered some criticism, but also, at least as far as Sabalenka is concerned, a lot of positive attention.

“It was fun. It was a big challenge. I think we brought a lot of attention to tennis, she said. What saddens me is that some people have misunderstood the very idea of ​​this event.

“But I don’t care. I think there will always be people who don’t like you, who don’t respect you, who don’t support you, but there are so many people who support me, who really encourage me and find inspiration in me. I focus on this aspect,” summed up the Belarus player.

Sabalenka is now focusing on the Australian Open. She won back-to-back titles there, in 2023 and 2024, and had a 20-match winning streak at Melbourne Park until her defeat in the final last year against Keys.

“Before the match (Tuesday), I was just playing my tennis, focusing on my game, on the things I was working on,” Sabalenka said, adding that the duel against Kyrgios helped her. I mean, when you play against the boys, the intensity is completely different, especially when there’s Nick doing drop shots on every shot, so you’re moving a lot. It gave me an excellent physical workout. »

It wasn’t as great for the often-injured Kyrgios, a 2022 Wimbledon finalist and former Brisbane tournament champion, who lost 6-3, 6-4 to No. 58 Aleksandar Kovacevic in his first match on the ATP Tour since March.

He has only played six games over the past three years due to knee and wrist surgeries.

The Australian, known for his unpredictability, has been playing exhibition matches to find his feet and, if he doesn’t get an invitation to the Australian Open, he plans to enter the qualifiers.

For Keys, preparation for the defense of her Australian Open title goes through Brisbane, then Adelaide, where she won last year, setting the table for the conquest of her first career Grand Slam title.

“Last year I made my dream come true,” Keys said. I would obviously like to repeat my performance from last year. That’s always my goal. »

Grigor Dimitrov wins, is relieved

Otherwise, it was a return to school for many players in great shape.

Grigor Dimitrov defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2 in his first duel since October 2025 and only his second since Wimbledon, where he had to withdraw due to a pectoral injury while leading by two sets against Italian Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.

“I’m just grateful,” said the Bulgarian. I put my body through a lot of tests, and I consider that being able to play today is a success, and a victory is definitely the icing on the sundae. »

Fourth seed Tommy Payl fell 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (6) to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his first match since the U.S. Open last August. The Frenchman’s serve was once again intimidating, and he recorded 24 aces.

Other top seeds left, including Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, by a score of 7-6 (4), 6-4 against Brandon Nakashima.

For his part, seventh seed Cameron Norrie saved three match points in the second set tiebreaker before winning 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5 against Ugo Humbert.